Part 2: Kundalini, Kali, Shaktipat, Deeksha, Indra Jaal
Indra Jaal, Magic, and Siddhis
Indra Jaal or Indrajal can be translated as “Indra’s net.” This image is very rich in layers of allusion, suggesting everything from illusion and deception to supernatural powers. There are three separate classes of this phenomenon worth looking at: magic, hypnosis, and siddhis.
Magic
The term Indrajal can be applied pejoratively and can be meant as deception. Or less pejoratively to mean a form of stage magic or prestidigitation. Most people are aware of this amusement and as it bears little relation to the process of self-realization, no further comment seems necessary.
Hypnosis and Mind Control
You're getting sleepy and you want to wear a hypnotizin, trashy dress!
Some forms of this art are practiced by yogis who are apparently able to override your normal mode of sense perception, kind of “imposing” what they wish you to perceive. This kind of mind control or yogic hypnosis is sometimes called najarband.
Amritananda Saraswati comments: “How do people swallow swords without being injured? Their throat is still intact where the sword goes in. Does it really go in and how is it that it does not hurt the intestines or the throat? Or perhaps it is not a sword at all? In that case, what is that power which is able to make everybody see a sword being swallowed? Our perceptions can be altered; we cannot be certain that what we are seeing is true. Suppose I have a red flower. It still remains red, but I can make everybody see it as blue even though it has not changed colour.”
Magic or self control? Miz. Lovelace of Yoga World?
Perhaps one may wish to inquire of these sorts of practitioners as to what their ego agenda is. Why would they wish to force you to perceive differently? If their claim is altruism, why the imposition? Are we dealing with egoistic mind control, just an entertaining diversion, or a demonstration of the illusory nature of our assumptions about “reality.”
“Obeisance to Mauna Guru
Who was it that gave this ego
So much authority?
Is there no other place for this Maya,
But my thought?
…It performs Indrajal in my mind,
Establishing the illusory world as permanent.
When shall I receive the secret
Of conquering this? Pray tell me…”
–From Hymns of Tayumanavar
The aspect of this practice that is interesting to a true seeker is that our perceptions of what is real can be so easily altered. As we evolve, we come to realize that what we can perceive as reality is only one infinitesimally thin slice of the reality pie. This is the true meaning of Maya.
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite.
For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thru’ narrow chinks of his cavern.”
– William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Copyright 2006, Keith E. Hall. All rights reserved.
